By Lucija Rozic | Team Member
This year was one of growth, learning, and quiet but powerful transformation within the Caregivers’ School. We reached more caregivers, worked across more provinces, strengthened our curriculum, and deepened the support we offer to those who care for Panama’s most vulnerable children and adolescents.
Every workshop, every reflection circle, and every shared moment of learning reminded us how essential caregivers are in the protection ecosystem — and how transformative it can be when they feel supported.
What we strengthened this year
2025 allowed us to refine our foundation in a way that will support many years ahead:
We completed the full Caregivers’ School theoretical manual, now the backbone of all our trainings.
We delivered both Module 1 (“Cuidado Integral”) and Module 2 (“Nuestra Labor”) across several provinces, ensuring consistency while adapting to each institution’s reality.
Law 285 became a core learning component, helping caregivers understand their legal responsibilities and how to advocate within the protection system.
We designed new evaluation tools, both quantitative and qualitative, to better measure shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and practice.
Through clinical supervision, we strengthened our crisis-response capacity, giving caregivers more tools to navigate emotional and behavioral emergencies.
We expanded partnerships with shelters, organizations, and public institutions — laying the groundwork for the program’s first school-based expansion.
Challenges that shaped us
As always, real progress comes with real challenges. This year, the team moved through:
Limited time and resources
High demand for emotional-crisis support
The need for greater standardization
Pressure on staffing and capacity
Instead of slowing us down, these challenges pushed us to evolve.
We improved workflows, strengthened communication channels, completed the manual, and began planning for a more resilient staffing structure in 2026 — including fuller teams, clearer evaluation systems, and intentional professional development.
Most important: what we learned
Some lessons stood out again and again:
When caregivers are supported, children feel the difference immediately.
Understanding the law gives caregivers confidence and protection.
Reflection circles, feedback sessions, and supervision are not “extras” — they are essential for meaningful learning.
Blending in-person training with digital content expands access and flexibility.
These insights will guide every decision we make in the coming year.
And if we speak in numbers…
Because sometimes numbers tell a story of their own:
73 caregivers enrolled
69 completed the full program
108 hours of training delivered
Caregivers came from 13 different institutions
Spanning Panamá, Panamá Oeste, Chiriquí, Penonomé, Chitré, and Ngäbe Buglé
And — our favorite number —
690 children indirectly impacted, thanks to more confident, skilled, and supported caregivers
Behind each number is a face, a name, a story.
Thank you for helping us reach them.
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By Lucija Rozic | Team Member
By Lucija Rozic | Team member
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